PlayStation Vita can warm up a bitter start to the year for games retail.
The games trade is upbeat about the new hardware launch, with specialists and mainstream outlets ramping up pre-orders, launching micro-sites and preparing midnight launches.
“In a period of market decline it’s a great opportunity to drive sales, and the excitement the launch generates is great for our customers and colleagues,†Sainsbury’s senior games buyer Toby Burton told MCV.
“We’ve been taking pre-orders through our Sainsbury’s Entertainment website for some time now and it’s tracking really well. The great thing is not all customers are pre-ordering the same game, which goes to prove that the launch line-up is more appealing and diverse than your average hardware launch.â€
Morrisons’ games buyer Nick Sultanti added: “The Vita launch should bring a welcome cheer to a dour High Street, it’s an amazing bit of kit.â€
GAME already has Vita units in all of its stores, while Asda’s head of games Andrew Thompson says the grocer ‘will be open in over 200 stores for a midnight launch’.
“The excitement around this launch shows that handheld gaming remains as popular as ever,†said GAME marketing director Anna-Marie Mason.